Godwin and members of his group have been involved in both basic and translational research for many years, filling several important niches within the translational research community as a whole (e.g., early detection, predictive biomarkers and clinical trials, molecular pathology, biosample ascertainment). The central theme of his work centers on the idea of obtaining a molecular definition of a tumor to define its treatment-sensitive elements. As such, he has a long-standing interest in the field of cancer genetics and molecular targeted therapies. His studies primarily involve three different types of cancer: breast, ovarian, and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). His group uses these models to investigate how to improve patient care.